pip. nI)!' 2^3Y' McNARY RESEARCH— SHINER 261 



If information on architecture and burial customs were available, 

 the table would probably be much larger. The distribution of 

 chipped-stone fetishes may have been Plateau-wide, but they were 

 probably not recognized by the earlier workers in the area. The 

 least that can be said of the table is that it shows close internal con- 

 sistency in the Plateau, as far as material culture is concerned. 



It was possible to make inferences on aboriginal economy from 

 two sides, the artifacts recovered and the bones of fish and animals 

 that were used for food. Every region in the Plateau showed, 

 where data were available, that hunting, fishing, and gathering were 

 of nearly equal importance. No region showed any significant 

 departure from the pattern. 



The early historical period in the Plateau was one of disturbance. 

 European fur traders were active over the entire area and some 

 influence, especially in art forms, was being felt from the Northwest 

 Coast. Plains influence, which probably began about 1750, has been 

 much discussed. The traits which accompanied this influence were 

 those associated with the horse and gun. They included tribal organ- 

 ization, status and chieftainship achieved by success in war, and 

 Plains-type warfare. 



Actually, by the time that Plains traits reached the Plateau in 

 strength, European acculturation had also taken place. Ray, in his 

 thorough analysis of Plateau cultural relations, found strong Pla- 

 teau individuality in the northern and central portions of the area 

 (Ray, 1939, p. 13). Plains-type political organization was foimd 

 among the southern tribes, but weakly developed. Coastal influ- 

 ences, in the form of rank and caste attitudes, had been accepted 

 only among the Indians of the southwest corner of the Plateau. 

 The central Plateau Indians were completely opposed to warfare, 

 and those of the far north had no knowledge of Plains-type warfare. 



According to Ray, political organization of the Plateau was based 

 on village autonomy (ibid., p. 4). Chieftainship was determined 

 by heredity, and social equality was the ideal. Pacifism was typical 

 of the entire Plateau, until a few of the eastern tribes began to adopt 

 some of the traits of typical Plains warfare. 



Ray's analysis of political and social organization in the Plateau 

 demonstrates, beyond any doubt, the individuality of Plateau culture. 

 He concludes : 



The plateau is seen to possess distinctive character in its own right. Many 

 aspects of culture which are integral to its organization are not to be found in 

 adjacent areas. This indicates both the individuality of the area and the rela- 

 tively slight influence which the region has exerted upon neighboring areas. 

 This is not to deny the existence or importance of cultural elements of foreign 

 origin. The Plateau has borrowed much from the Coast and it has taken much 

 from the Plains but the importance of coastal influence has probably been over- 



